I purchased Track IR5. One of the reasons was that while trying to use the virtual cockpit I had alot of trouble positioning my view to see the overhead panel in virtual cockpit to an angle that was perpindicular enought to see the switches; similarly with the pedastal. Using Track IR does not seem to resolve the problem for me. It is still hard to get a straight on enough view of the overhead even if I try to "move over to the side and look up". Likewise I seem to have a very hard time programming the FMC with the track IR environment. It seems the 2d views are still much easier to do the set up in. I had thought track IR would allow me to move my viewpoint laterally enough to get a head on view of the pedastal and overhead panel.

 

So I am wondering how folks use Track IR. Do you set up the flight, program FMC etc in 2D mode and use track IR mainly when flying? Anyone else having trouble getting views that are not so lateral to the surface that one can not see the switches off the other side much less click on them?

 

This also pertains to my use of the 747 X

 

Thanks Greg

I use it exclusively. It's important to get it set up correctly. I also program a key on my joystick to freeze the view so that for example I can lean down to the fmc and then freeze the view so I don't have to keep my head still. Stay with it. Once you get used to it you wont be able to live without it...

Hey Greg, I too am a recent convert to TrackIR (in preparation for the 777). I found that using EZdok to focus on certain areas of the flight deck to be the best option. It will take some setting up at first, but once you get it, you'll eventually get used to it. Now when I fly, even though I love the 2D flight deck, I haven't gone back to it ever since I made the switch. For my FMC setup, I use the 2D popup, rather than the EZdok focus.

 

Take a few moments with the EZdok setup, get comfortable with it and TrackIR, and you'll see how quickly it becomes natural to you.

 

For those times when I just want to flip a switch from a distance (like the packs or the lights) I just rely my memorization of the overhead panel from continuous use. But other times, like for the IRS switches, I use EZdok.

 

Jamil Fraser

I also would recommend taking a look at EZdok. You can set up a view for the overhead panel and set this view to a button on your joystick, then look around the panel with TrackIR. It stops all the acrobatic head movement you would have to do otherwise.

 

Glen

EZDok is definetly worth the extra investment. These 2 companies need to sell a bundle pack together.

I set a key on my mouse to the same key that is set to freeze TrackIR.

This helps to flip a switch in turbulence or if I move my head away and I can keep the view focused on the overall panel.

You should also start with a trackIR profile.

http://forum.naturalpoint.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=42450